Not capital punishment

Zenon Konopka is heading back to the city of one of his greatest accomplishments in hockey.

The 30-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake native, who won a Memorial Cup with the Ottawa 67's in 1999, is back in the nation's capital after agreeing to a one-year deal worth $700,000 with the Ottawa Senators.

Konopka, who spent last season with the New York Islanders, is thrilled with the move.

"It's been something that's been on my radar for a few years now," said Konopka, who began his junior career with the Thorold Blackhawks before joining the 67's.

"I met a lot of great people in Ottawa and have some family there, so it's pretty special to go back and relive the glory days.

"It's still pretty surreal to me. It doesn't feel like I'm going to Ottawa."

Konopka said there were several other teams interested in his services.

"We were close to a bunch of teams," he said. "It was a tough decision, but between playing junior in Ottawa and having a chance to maybe elevate my game and wanting to play in Canada, that was definitely something that was part of the equation, too.

"It just seemed like every variable was pointing toward Ottawa and I couldn't not take those into consideration."

Konopka has also played for the Tampa Bay Lighting, Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets - not exactly hockey hotbeds - and was astounded at the response after he signed.

"It was crazy. I was running my hockey school in Ottawa when I signed and you forget how big of a hockey town Ottawa is," he said. "Within an hour, the papers and TV were at the rink.

"Hockey is No. 1 there and it's going to be exciting to play in a hockey market."

Playing closer to home is also a bonus for Konopka, who still spends part of his summer at the family farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

"That was another variable," he said. "Having an opportunity to come to Toronto and Buffalo so many times and to play Montreal, its amazing and something to savour during the year."

Konopka is a faceoff specialist who is also known for his toughness and willingness to drop the gloves. Last season, he led the NHL with 307 penalty minutes.

"Ottawa's main thing was my faceoff ability and leadership," said Konopka, who has eight goals, 22 points and 684 penalty minutes in 195 career games. "That's what they harped on when I talked to the coach and GM. Toughness didn't really come into effect, but obviously, it's part of my game."

Konopka gives the Sens another gritty performer to join the likes of Chris Neil, Matt Carkner and Zack Smith.

"We want to have a swagger about us because, arguably, we're probably the toughest team in the league now," Konopka said. "There is so much parity in the league and any little thing that can help your team win, you need to use it.

"Toughness is something if we have it, we're going to use it. We want to make sure all of our young guys feel comfortable."

Konopka has played for umpteen teams since turning pro in 2002-03 - he even spent some time in Russia - but wherever he's gone, he has taken on a leadership role and has been well respected in the locker room. In fact, Konopka said he was overwhelmed at the support he received when he signed with the Sens.

"I was pretty taken by the calls and text messages from the Islanders players when I signed with Ottawa," he said. "I've always prided myself on being a leader and that's something over the course of your career you start gaining more respect in the room and it was pretty nice to see that."

Konopka has kept himself busy this summer. He has a number of business interests in the wine industry and also took time out to play in the Blackhawks golf tournament last week.

Konopka played only one season in Thorold, but still has many friends - he mentioned Mike Cwiertnewski, Scott Ellis, Scott Sweitzer, Pat Smith, Rory Montgomery and former Falcon Steve Poirier - as ex-players he still keeps up with.

"I'm still really close with those guys and it's really special," he said. "We have a lot of fun and it's a close-knit bunch of guys. Not a ton on people in the NHL come home for the summer, but I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Konopka also made some time for local ball hockey maven Vytas Daraska, donating some memorabilia for a planned hall of fame at Daraska's new indoor ball hockey facility on Dunkirk Rd.

Daraska would like to put together a display of all former and present NHLers from Niagara in a room at the rink.

"There are 35-40 names through next couple of months I plan to get hold of," Daraska said. "When people come in here - I know they're coming here for ball hockey - but it would ne nice for the people of St. Catharines to see this and these players can get a little bit of recognition."

Daraska also has plans to hold a charity ball hockey tournament next year featuring some of the local NHL players with profits to the Jump Start program.